When SEGA revealed the new Crazy Taxi last year, many longtime fans were expecting the wild arcade experience they knew and loved—slamming the gas, drifting around corners, and racing to get passengers to their destinations on time. But as more details have emerged, players are growing increasingly confused. Not only is the new game becoming a large-scale online multiplayer experience set in an open world, but now generative AI is also being thrown into the mix. After the news broke, many players’ first reaction wasn’t excitement—but rather the same question: why do we need generative AI in this?
From Fare-Chasing to AI Mega-Plans?
According to information SEGA previously shared, the new Crazy Taxi will be a massive multiplayer online game where players compete across a huge city—far larger than any previous entry. More recently, the development team mentioned exploring generative AI applications, sparking further discussion. While they haven’t detailed exactly where AI would be used, many players are already worried this is another case of jumping on the AI bandwagon without good reason.
Players Roast: Just Make a Good Game First
After all, the core gameplay of Crazy Taxi has always been simple: spot a passenger, floor it, run red lights, blow through obstacles, and get them to the destination on time. That doesn’t seem to have much to do with generative AI. This discussion has also reminded many of the AI hype in the gaming industry recently. Many companies talk about generative AI, but actual results often draw skepticism. Even Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick publicly stated this year that the idea AI could directly create a game like Grand Theft Auto VI is laughable.
The Real Problem Isn’t the AI
Many players feel that instead of constantly pushing AI, SEGA should first prove the new Crazy Taxi is actually fun. For longtime fans, they weren’t waiting for an AI taxi—they were waiting for the Crazy Taxi where you could blast rock music and tear through the city like a maniac. What’s even more interesting is that the community’s real concern isn’t even the AI itself, but rather that Crazy Taxi is gradually drifting away from what made it special. From a single-player arcade game to a massive multiplayer online experience with open world, live service, and AI elements, many are wondering: will this end up being Crazy Taxi, or just a new game wearing the Crazy Taxi name?
